Current collector



se tf zs, 1924'. 1,509,522

s. s. MATTHES CURRENT COLLECTOR iled March 1, 1922' Patented Sept. 23,1924.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL S. MATTI-IES, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THEOHIO BRASS COll\lZ]E1-11\Tfi',

PATENT OFFICE.

OF IIEANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUR/RENT COLLECTOR.

Application filed March 1, 1922. Serial No. 540,147.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. Mirr'rrrns, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Mansfield, in thecounty of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Current Collectors, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to electric current collectors for moving vehiclesand more particularly to that class of vehicle which operates not onlybelow and in line with the overhead conductors, but to either side andin line with the conductors and free to change their distance ofoperation toward or away from the overhead conductors at the will of theoperator. Such operation is known as trackless trolley operation and thevehicle is a trolley-bus.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will collectcurrent from two overhead conductors of different polarity and permitthe vehicle or trolley-bus to move about freely relative to theconductors within reach of the trolley pole and maintain contact withthe conductors. To the attainment of this end and the accomplishment ofother new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists inthe novel features of'construction, combination of parts and in theunique relations and disposition of the various parts hereinafter morefully described and claimed and shown in the accompanyingdrawing whichillustrates several employments of the invention, and in which Figure 1is a top plan view of my invention engaging the overhead conductors whenthe trolley-bus is operating to one side of the conductor.

Fig. 2 is a side view of my invention engaging the overhead conductorsand when the trolley-bus is operating below and in line with theconductors.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modification of my invention shown asengaging overhead conductors and in which the trolley-bus is operatingbelow and in line with the conductors.

Fig. 5 is a side view ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 4

Fig. 7 is a detail of the swivel joint taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In my preferred form I employ a trolley pole or support 1 mounted uponthe trolley-bus in the usual manner well known in the art and to theupper end of the support is secured a member 2 provided with a clevis 3.Mo'unted'in the clevis is an insu lating member 4 and secured to theclevis by the bolt and nut 5. To each end of the insulating member 4: issecured a current collecting element 6 and secured to the in sulatingelement by means of integrally formed yoke 7 and the bolt 8.

The member 2 is rigidly secured to the member 1, but the insulatingmember 1 is pivotally mounted in the yoke 3.

The current collecting members 6 each comprise a horizontally disposedelement 9 the upper surface of which forms a convex surface 10 adaptedto engage the conductors 1111 respectively, and also hav ing anupstanding flange 12, the outer surface 13 of which 18 of circularformation, all points of which in any single horizontal plane areequally'distant from the pivoted point A. The surface 13 is preferablyobliquely disposed in order that interference with the trolley clamps,ears, etc. used in supporting the trolley conductor may be avoided.

The members 9 are so shaped that the distance B isless than the distanceC which is preferable on account of the convex formation of the surface10. It will be observed that if the pole 1 is caused to take an angularformation to either side of the longitudinal direction with respect tothe trolley conductor, that the flanges 13 will maintain the center Asubstantially midway between the conductors 11 and 11, and that sincethe exterior surface of the flange 13 is formed with equal radii in anysingle horizontal plane about the point A that the trolley-bus to whichthe device is secured can readily swing from one side to the other froma direct line of operation below the trolley wire and without bringingany undue strain upon the conductors in tending to throw them toward oraway from each other. It is also necessaryto meet con ditions where theangularity of the support member 1 changes with respect to theconductors due to variations in the height of the conductors above theground, I meet this condition by having the surface 10 of a convexformation relative to the conductors as; already pointed out above andthis elements +-20as mounted upon an insulatingl'bar'21 which in turn ismounted upon the member-22which is securedto the support'l'. In thismodifiedconstruction I provide for a.- pivotal motionofthe member 21'about its: longitudinal axis, and; I also provide a pivotal: motion ofthe member. 22 relative to the member 1- about its longitudinal axis. Ihave shown the: member 21- as: a-- circular cross section and passingthrough the collar 23 which forms part of the member 22' and theinsulating member 21' isheld in the position against longitudinalmovement by means of the collars 24 which are pinned to the member 21.

The current collectingmembers: 20-20 havea horizontally formed element-25', the upper surface of which is plain and adapted to engage theconductors l111" respectively. The collectors 2020 are also providedwith an upstanding flange provided with: a surface 26 all pointsofwhichin a common horizontal planeare equallydis-- tant= from thecentral points of mounting A". The collectors 2020 are secured to theinsulating member 21' by means of the integrally formed-lugs- 27 an'dthebolt 28;

The member 22-is arranged to pivot upon the member 1 by means of thegroove 29" extending around the member 1' engaged by the pin 30'. Thisconstruction not only permitsof a swivel oftlie member 22 relativetoth'e member'l, but prevents themember-22 from removal from the member1.

Tothe best of my knowledge all previous constructions of this class haveemployed the small; so called trolley wheel or sliding shoe of limitedsize engaging each conductor, but these devices are very readily thrownfrom the conductors, and I have attempted to overcome this difficulty bythe construction hereinset forth and beyond doubt many modificationswill suggest themselves to one skilled in the art:

I claim:

1. A current collecting device comprising posed surface and anupstanding fian e the outer surface being convex to a sulistantiallyvertical plane.

2. A current collecting device comprising a support member, atransversely disposed head secured to the support; in pivotal relationthereto about the axis of the support, a pair of current collectingmembers supported by the head and means to insulate the collectingmembers from each other; each collecting member comprising ahorizontally disposed flange and an upstanding flangeof curvedformation, the two upstanding flanges forming segments of a circle.

3. A current collecting device comprising a support member, atransversely disposed head secured to the support in pivotal relationthereto about the axis of the support and about an axis at right anglesto the support axis, a pair of current col-- lecting members supportedby the head and means to insulate the collecting members from eachother; each collecting member comprising a horizontally disposed flangeand an upstanding flange of curved formation, the two upstanding flangesforming segments of a circle the center of which is the point of'supportof thetransvcrse head on the support.

l. A current collecting devicecomprising a support member, a headsecured to the support in pivotal relation theretoabout a horizontalaxis at right angles tothe axis of the support, apair of currentcollecting members supported by the head and arranged to engage overheadconductors, and means to insulate the collecting members from eachother; each collecting member comprising a horizontally disposed flangeand an upstanding flange having a circular face, the circular faces sopositioned that they form a portion of acomplctecircle the diameter ofwhich is approximately that of the right angle distance between theconductors 5. A current collecting member to engage an overheadconductor comprising a fi'am e, aflange projecting from the face of t efirst flange and forn'iing a segment of a cirole and an angle with thefirst flange adapted to receive the overhead conductor and means tosecure the collector to a sup ort and in pivotal relation thereto in apane substantially at right angles to the axis of the support.

6'. A current collecting device comprising-a support member, a pair ofcurrent col looting members mountedon; the support in pivotal relationthereto and insulated therefrom; each collecting member comprising aflange positioned in e common plane and arranged to engage an overheadconductor and a flange projecting from the first mentioned flange andhaving a face to ill) engage the overhead conductor to maintain thecollecting device in engagement with the conductors against lateraldisplacement.

7. A. current collecting device to engage a pair of parallel conductorscomprising a support and a pair of collecting members mounted on thesupport in pivotal relation thereto and insulated therefrom and fromeach other; each collecting member comprising a means to engage one ofthe conductors from below and a projecting means forming a segment of acircle to engage the inner face of the conductor to prevent lateraldisplacement of the collector.

8. A current collecting device arranged to engage a pair of parallelconductors comprising a support member, a transverse member pivotallymounted on the support member to swing in a plane pierced by the axis ofthe support and a pair of collecting members rigidly mounted on thetransverse member, means on each collecting member to engage a conductorand permit the transverse member to change its angular relation. withthe parallel conductors.

9. A current collecting device to engage a pair of parallel spacedconductors comprising a supporting member, a cross-head pivotallymounted thereon to swing in a plane pierced by the axis of the support,a pair of collecting members mounted on the cross-head to move therewithand engage the conductors; each collecting member provided with a member9 and a member 12 substantialy as shown and described.

10. A current collecting device to engage a pair of parallel conductorscomprising a support member, a head pivotally mounted on the supportmember, a pair of current collecting members secured to the head andmeans to insulate the collecting members from each other; eachcollecting member comprising a member to engage one of the conductorsand a member projecting therefrom and forming a segment of a circle toengage the conductor to prevent lateral displacement.

11. A current collecting device to engage a pair of parallel spacedconductors comprising a supporting member, a cross-head pivotallymounted thereon, a pair of current collecting members mounted on thecross-head each to engage one of the conductors and means to permit thecurrent collecting members to rotate in a substantially horizontal planeabout an axispassing through the point A or A due to lateral angularmovement of said supporting mem ber and maintain said point A or Asubstantially equal distance from each condue-tor.

12. The combination with a plurality of parallel disposed and spacedconductors of a collecting member engaging each ;conductor, means tosupport the collecting members from a vehicle, each collecting membercomprising a member parallelly disposed to its conductor and to engagethe same and having means projecting substantially at right anglesthereto and forming a segment of a circle to maintain the collectingmembers against lateral displacement and permit the collecting membersto rotate in a plane parallel to the conductors and means to secure thecollecting members to the sup porting means and permit the collectingmembers to pivot relatively to the supporting means.

In testimony whereof I airlX my signature.

SAMUEL S. MATTHES.

